LOS ANGELES — After a so-so performance in his first sparring session last Thursday against Israel Vazquez, Manny Pacquiao performed much better on Saturday when he worked out with Mexican lightwelterweight Juan Carlos “Panda” Martinez for six rounds at the Wild Card Boxing Club.
While Martinez is not an exceptional fighter, he was still able to make Pacquiao work hard because of his non-stop, swarming style.
The good thing about Martinez is “he’s always there,” Justin Fortune, Pacquiao’s conditioning coach, said.
Fortune, who once fought and lost to Lennox Lewis, took charge for the third straight day as Freddie Roach is still in Canada attending to personal matters.
Martinez was called in to sub for Vazquez, who had to beg off “because his kid is sick.”
Vazquez battled Pacquiao in a four-round session and Pacquiao admitted that he has to work harder to get his rhythm back.
“I have to run longer in the morning (roadwork) and I have to sweat it out at the gym in the afternoon,” said Pacquiao, obviously not taking the 30-year-old Velazquez lightly.
“He (Velazquez) surely looks tough and I know he will not give up easily so I have to train harder. I cannot take him for granted,” added Pacquiao.
Roach should be back at the gym on Monday when Pacquiao also welcomes the arrival of Jose Sta. Cruz, another 140-pounder from Mexico, who had also previously worked with the Filipino lefty.
Pacquiao let Martinez hit him with shots to the ribcage in front of only a few people at the gym since as there is a closed-door policy being enforced to make sure Pacquiao doesn’t get distracted.
Pacquiao is booked to slug it out with Hector “El Artillero” Velazquez on Sept. 10 at the Staples Center and he only needs to draw to secure a lucrative rematch with Erik Morales sometime in January 2006 in Las Vegas.
Despite the assurance made by his American handlers that the rematch is already sealed, Pacquiao wants to make a statement in his first fight since bowing to Morales last March 19.
Before reporting at the Wild Card for the sixth straight day, Pacquiao played the game of hoops with Filipinos living here at the Pan Pacific Park after his jogging that was supervised by Fortune.
But Pacquiao did not play as hard because he might get tripped and injure his ankle or break a bone, a development that could scrap the Velazquez bout.
It could not be determined if Pacquiao is indeed serious in returning to the basketball court on Sunday morning since he has been given the green light for rest and recreation.
If Pacquiao does not end up engaging his pals here in a shoot-around, he will likely be doing the rounds of the supermarkets and sporting goods or playing with his Taylor guitar which he bought for $2,500 earlier in the week.
